In this issue

A message from the director of APA's Office on SES

Welcome to the sixth volume of The SES Indicator. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Office on Socioeconomic Status (OSES). When established in 2007 by the APA’s Task Force on Socioeconomic Status, OSES was charged with “directing, overseeing, facilitating, and promoting psychology’s contribution to the understanding of socioeconomic status and the lives and well-being of the poor”.

Much like our previous issue on unemployment and mental health, food access and children’s health is a hot topic in today’s media, society and policy circles. In April 2012, The New York Timesdescribed recent studies questioning the link between food deserts and subsequent child or adult obesity. First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Get Movin! campaign to encourage physical activity and healthy eating among children and families, as well as eliminating food deserts through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which celebrated its second anniversary this past March. Now is a prime time to explore the role of psychology in studying food insecurity and its implications on children’s well-being and healthy development.

This issue will feature an article from Dr. Maureen Black, a pediatric psychologist and professor at the University of Maryland College Park School of Medicine. Black provides an engaging overview and discussion of the consequences of household food insecurity on children, and the various pathways linking food insecurity and children’s health. Dr. Kerry Bolger, of the APA’s Public Interest Government Relations Office (PI-GRO), will go on to describe APA’s stance on the elimination of social services block grants.

Furthermore, this issue will feature several announcements and upcoming events, but two stand out in particular. First, our office is pleased to announce Ieshia Haynie as our new program coordinator. Please read further on for a more thorough description of the skills and knowledge Ieshia will bring to our team. Finally, we are pleased to announce the Office on SES Resource Guide. Over the last few months, our office has gathered relevant statistics, websites, fact sheets, media sources and printed texts on several topics related to socioeconomic status. We look forward to sharing more resources and information with you, either through our website or social media channels, over the coming months.